Woodshedding. . . . .

. . . . the title may make my community concert band director AND my oboe teacher think that I've been practicing!

But, actually, that's NOT what the title refers to. :(

Woodshedding. . . . means exactly that. Spending more time in the woodshed, stacking firewood. We are making great headway on all the piles of eucalyptus, locust, pine, and mulberry stacked around our 2 acres. One of the joys of living in the country means a lot of trees--a lot of trees that fall at inopportune times. But it also means a lot of firewood. We have a great woodshed and it was literally empty after this past winter so it's good to see it filling up again and the piles in the yard disappearing.

I did paint this evening--almost finished with 2 more word paintings and I have 2 more in progress. Enthusiasm, knowledge, diversity, and compassion--coming your way soon! And a new painting started for my critique group. The topic is "The Eyes Have It!" Or maybe it's "The I's Have It"? Actually, according to Roy's reminder, it should be "The Ayes Have It" from the days when votes were taken by a chorus of "Ayes". So, it will be interesting to see what comes out of the topic when we next meet in April.

A new week. . . .

A new start to a new week and more opportunities for painting this week than last, me hopes! LOL Sometimes all the other things get in the way, but, in the end, all are necessary. So I want this to be a painting week whereas last week was a doing-everything-else-related-to-painting-and-everything-else week. :) I hope I can make it a reality this week and see my goal numbers change by weeks' end! (Shaking on it!)

Busy day!

This is what today looked like:

9:45-Noon   Painting with a group of friends

Noon to 2:15  Looked at color proofs of 4 large paintings and took some new small paintings to the photographer to be scanned and printed as cards etc.

2:15 Lunch and a breather

3:30 Allergy doctor appointment

5:00 Gas station and grocery store near home

6:00 Dinner at Wendy's

7-9:30 Fresno Community Band Rehearsal

Is it any wonder that some days I don't paint? Though I know that everyone has days like this. 

The new painting shown with yesterday's post now has a name. It is to be called "Fleur-y" (as in Flurry of Flowers. . . .Fleur-y!) Yes? No? You don't get it? You DO get it? Hmmmmmmmm.

:)

Moving Ahead

Before I move ahead and away from the energy of One World, One Heart, I'd like to thank Lisa (its organizer) for all she did on the huge project. I think everyone would deem it an extraordinary success--beyond her wildest dreams, I am sure! So, thank you, Lisa. Also I'd like to thank everyone who visited my blog, signed up for my giveaways, and explored my artistic world as shown on "Mixed Messages". Thank you also to those of you who have sent nice compliments and have become followers. I hope to get to know you better over the coming weeks and months. The 2 winners of my giveaways have contacted me and their prizes will soon be in the mail. Congratulations! And thank you for participating, ALL OF YOU!

Life brings us such unexpected happenings and we have to learn to go with the flow and assume they all happen for a reason. Yesterday morning I got a call from an artist friend asking if I had 2-3 paintings that I could get to her right away to be in a small show at a winery for the next month. So, knowing that wine paintings are very popular in the central San Joaquin Valley, I said "Sure!" and hopped in the car to gather up the 3 that I currently have finished and framed. Getting them collected and ready to send off this afternoon took me away from what I had planned for the day, but I think it will be good exposure to a new group of people and I welcome that. I sent "Jewel Tones" (can be seen on my slide show), "Parallels" (also on the slide show, it depicts words that describe wine AND women both), and "Through Rose Colored Glasses." Also some prints and cards and PR materials. We will see what comes of it. (Crossing fingers. . . . . )

This morning, I was up really late (or early, depending upon how you look at it!) trying to get my Etsy store set up. I wasn't very successful but I will persist and explore other storefronts more tonight or tomorrow. I think it's a good venue for some of my smaller items, not my full sheet framed mixed media works necessarily. I am struggling with pricing, shipping costs, and creating a banner. In time, I will be successful at it though.

Well, I want to watch Westminster even though I know who won. There are so many new breeds that it's exciting to see them in the groups and Best in Show. After breeding and showing Gordon Setters and Irish Setters for over 25 years, I still love the dog show scene, even if it's now from afar! Today's photo is of Cooper, our one current dog. He is the first small dog (13#) that we've ever owned and the only mixed breed. Shown here rather untrimmed, he is a darling dog--part Lhasa Apso and part Jack Russell terrier. He is cute and smart and funny and, you might suspect, spoiled rotten! We love him a lot and so do all 3 kitties, all of whom weigh more than he does!

Finishing up a lot of loose ends

I'm still spending a lot of time in the studio, working on a couple of new paintings (1 large, 2 small) and considering how to finish off a lot of small ones from a while back. Some are finished and just need to be signed, matted, and framed (or bagged) and some I am still looking at, trying to decide just what it is that they need. I have set a goal for myself of trying to complete 1 large painting and 2 small paintings each week this year. I'm not sure that I can do it, but I am certainly going to try! The small ones are easy--it's the large one that sometimes takes longer than a week from start to finish. But if I can average 1 a week, that works for me!

Just think, if I could do a large painting a week, that would be 52 in a year! Amazing!? A lofty goal, but it sure would be nice to add that many new paintings in 2009. Just putting it in writing makes it something to strive for even though I'm getting a little bit late start since it is February 10th, as I write this. I'm going to leave it as my goal and see if I can play "catch up" and still make it! I am not saying that quantity is the most important thing here--I want quality, of course. But I am not a slow painter so a painting a week is not unrealistic if I work hard in the studio almost every day.

Monday evening

As I've said before, sometimes painting and practicing win out over posting and tonight is another one of those nights. I've been finishing up some paintings and really making good progress at that. But I still have practicing to do (with an oboe lesson tomorrow!)  and it's after 9 PM here in California, so I'm going to do that now. Also, the Westminster Dog Show is on tonight and I am recording it to watch later. After showing dogs for 25+years (in another life!?), it's hard to miss it and some years February sails right on by and I don't see it. This year, I'm going to watch it all--in segments!

More soon, I promise!

Sunday evening

The painting is called "Pink Dreams" and is about breast cancer awareness. It was done for the local "Pink Show" last year.

It's after 10 PM and I haven't painted today and I'm "itching" to add the darks to my current painting. So, I'm off--to paint, not post tonight. :)

Practice, paint, or post?

How 'bout all 3? I almost didn't post today because I haven't been
able to sign onto my blog. But a do have a Plan B, my cell phone.

I am trying to paint every day, practice my oboe (most days), and post every day. Yesterday I had a major blogging accomplishment because I was able to finally modify the text in my banner/ header so that I am more pleased with it. I am starting to be able to use Photoshop Elements a little more and that is how I did it. Yippee! And good night for now!(With maybe 1 minute to spare! Though it showed up much later than it should have.)

Sent from my iPhone by Kathleen